Greatest rugby league and rugby union converts
There are many similarities between Rugby Union and Rugby League. However, there are some really subtle differences too, which can make for a very challenging transition if not prepared.
Check out below the greatest, the good, and the not so good code-switches:
10) Sam Burgess
The hype around the switch of Sam Burgess was unreal. It was a big money transfer that came with a whole load of pressure.
Having previously dominated play for both Bradford Bulls and South Sydney, Slammin Sam was expected to come over to union and use his sizeable frame to cause havoc in the English premiership.
After a slow start and a large debate over his ideal position, Burgess started to show some of the form that was expected of him. Playing for west-country side, Bath, it was here that the former league international gained recognition from the international union coaches.
Despite having played just the one season of club rugby, Burgess was called up to the England national side ahead of the 2015 world cup. Following England’s disastrous campaign, the big hitter was used by the media very much as a scapegoat.
Because of this Burgess made the decision to return to rugby league, where he had a moderately successful finish to his career before being forced into early retirement in 2019 due to a chronic shoulder injury.
9) Andy Farrell
Having achieved so much in both playing and coaching, Andy Farrell is arguably one of rugby’s greatest ever assets.
Striving through the Wigan Warriors side at the young age of just 16, Farrell went on to win 370 official caps for his club side over a career that lasted 13 years. His time in rugby league included six championships and four challenge cups, as well as numerous individual awards.
It was in 2005 that the loose forward made the move over to rugby union, with the hopes of making the 2007 rugby world cup squad. After a series of injuries and setbacks, Farrell finally made his Saracens debut in 2006.
Despite playing predominately at flanker for Saracens, Farrell was chosen as England’s first choice inside-centre ahead of the world cup.
After a turbulent time in the competition, Farrell was not seen in international colours again. He finally retired in 2009, before going on to a very successful coaching career.
8) Jonathan Davies
The oldest on this list, Davies had an incredible career that spanned over 15 years. The mercurial fly-half spent the majority of his playing career in Wales, turning out for the national side in both versions of the game.
Having started his career in union, Davies moved over to rugby league for a record transfer fee in 1989. It was in league that Davies spent the next six years playing in both the English and Australian divisions.
It was only in 1995 that Davies decided to return to Cardiff and pick up his union boots once again, before finally retiring in 1997.
Since retiring he has become an incredibly well-known pundit, and truly is one of rugby’s greatest men.
7) Lesley Vainikolo
Lesley Vainikolo was an extremely powerful winger with an eye for the try line. Spending ten years playing rugby league, this unit of a back three player started his professional career at Canberra Raiders where he earned his nickname ‘The Volcano’. From here The Volcano travelled across the world to join English outfit, Bradford Bulls.
After being named in Bradford’s ‘Team of the Century’, the Tongan-born winger chose to move down the country to play rugby union at Gloucester.
With the ability to run the 100m sprint in just 10.6 seconds, the west-country side had picked themselves up a potential superstar.
A solid start to his union career saw Vainikolo receive a call up to the England national side. The former New Zealand rugby league international was now wearing the white of England in exciting times for the fans.
Unfortunately, after just five appearances for the men in white, it was not to be. A somewhat disappointing end to his career, but no one can deny the man’s natural talent.
6) Stephen Myler
Stephen Myler spent the first five years of his career playing rugby league, mainly for Widness Vikings as well as a short stint at Salford City Reds. It was only when he decided to switch to rugby union in 2006 that he really found his game, however.
Joining English premiership giants Northampton Saints, the northern lad established himself in the squad quickly. Lethal from the boot, Myler scored all the points in his team’s 2009 Challenge Cup victory over Bourgoin.
With 1778 points, Myler currently sits in third place on the all-time top points scorers list for the English premiership.
Despite having only made one appearance for England, his incredible premiership career will leave Myler as a cross-code legend.
5) Lote Tuquiri
Standing at 6 ft 3 in (191 cm), Lote Tuqiri was a giant of a winger capable of standing up to any opposition he faced. His sizable 16 st 1 lb (102 kg) frame was most noticeable when playing against the smaller more commonly sized wingers of the day. Jason Robinson was particularly found out during the 2003 world cup final when Tuqiri had a clear advantage during the aerial battle.
Spending his first three years of professional rugby in the league code, Tuqiri became known as a prolific scorer, with a strike rate of over a try every other match.
At the start of 2003, Tuqiri made the announcement he was to sign for union side New South Wales Waratahs. Such was his impression with his new side that come June of that same year he had been called up to the Australian national side to play against Ireland.
Following a very successful international career and a stint with the Leicester Tigers, Tuqiri made his way back to rugby league.
During his return, the speedy winger also turned out for Fiji before hanging his boots up for good.
4) Brad Thorn
A brilliant rugby league player, Brad Thorn achieved three NRL titles with the Brisbane Broncos as well as numerous other trophies in his time.
He made the decision to cross over into Union in 2001 and went on to win multiple titles with The Crusaders. A highly talented second-row, Thorn was called up to the New Zealand national side, for which he ended up with 59 appearances and was a part of the historical 2011 rugby world cup winning squad.
During his career, Thorn dotted back and forward between league and union, ending his playing time as one of the most decorated rugby players of all time.
3) Chris Ashton
The English premiership’s top-ever try scorer has had quite the journey since switching over from league. Turning out for no less than seven different clubs in a fifteen-year career, Chris Ashton has made quite the splash in his time (pun intended).
A strong start to his senior league career saw Ashton called up for the national squad, turning out four times before making the switch to Union.
Ashton has broken try-scoring record after record during his career, crediting his support play and the ability to read the game as a major factor in his red-hot ability to touch down over the line.
Ashton was a mainstay in the England setup for many years, with his try-scoring exploits more than making up for his somewhat suspect defence.
With one of the best strike rates the northern hemisphere has ever seen, Ashton has to be considered an overwhelming success.
2) Sonny Bill Williams
Sonny Bill was a true athlete. Able to perform at the very highest level in both league and union, as well as being a dab hand at boxing too.
Used mainly as a centre, Williams was known for his incredible offloading skills as well as his ability to deliver huge devastating hits.
Switching between league and union for the majority of his career saw Williams pick up countless individual and team awards for club and country.
Seen by many as one of the most exciting players to have ever played the game, there was no one else in world rugby with the skillset Sonny Bill Williams had.
1) Jason Robinson
Billy Whizz as he was affectionately known during his playing days, was one of the greatest back three players England has ever seen. His incredible sidestepping abilities and acceleration off the mark saw the Sale and England player strike fear into any defence that dared to give him space.
For nine years the lethal speedster turned out for rugby league side Wigan, earning himself call-ups to both the England and the Great Britain national squads.
It was his switch to Union that caught the global eye, however. After a short loan stint at Bath, Robinson made the code cross permanent when signing for Sale in 2000.
Like a duck to water, Robinson found no time in terrorising defences in his new sport, shortly getting the national call-up. Two world cups and multiple tries later, Robinson retired as one of the greatest cross-code players to have ever played the game.
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to comments